String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario NYXL1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Eb standard on a 28" scale

10-46 Regular Light, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 110.0 lb49.9 kg489 N in total and 18.3 lb8.31 kg82 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.2%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +11% from the set average.

Total tension
110.0 lb49.9 kg489 N
Average per string
18.3 lb8.31 kg82 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01017.4 lb7.90 kg77 N2Bb3.01316.6 lb7.51 kg74 N3Gb3.01717.8 lb8.09 kg79 N4Db3.02619.7 lb8.92 kg88 N5Ab2.03620.4 lb9.26 kg91 N6Eb2.04618.1 lb8.19 kg80 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .010NYS010plain 17.4 lb7.90 kg77 N−5%
2Bb3233.1 .013NYS013plain 16.6 lb7.51 kg74 N−10%
3Gb3185.0 .017NYS017plain 17.8 lb8.09 kg79 N−3%
4Db3138.6 .026NYNW026wound 19.7 lb8.92 kg88 N+7%
5Ab2103.8 .036NYNW036wound 20.4 lb9.26 kg91 N+11%
6Eb277.8 .046NYNW046wound 18.1 lb8.19 kg80 N−1%
Total110.0 lb49.9 kg489 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL125 9-11-16-26-36-4616.7 lb7.57 kg74 N 100.1 lb45.4 kg445 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4617.7 lb8.03 kg79 N 106.2 lb48.2 kg472 Nmediumeven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4618.0 lb8.18 kg80 N 108.3 lb49.1 kg482 Nmediumvery even
NYXL1046 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4618.3 lb8.31 kg82 N 110.0 lb49.9 kg489 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4618.3 lb8.31 kg82 N 110.0 lb49.9 kg489 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4618.4 lb8.33 kg82 N 110.2 lb50.0 kg490 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 28"

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 6.0%, average 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 6.1%, average 17.7 lb8.03 kg79 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. D'Addario EXL120 9-11-16-24-32-42 deviation 15.4%, average 15.1 lb6.86 kg67 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL0942

More for the NYXL1046

Other tunings on 28": E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 25.5"–27" multiscale

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

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